Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Anderson & Citkowski, P.C.
  • Patent number: 8067893
    Abstract: An intelligent light fixture facilitates the use of a ‘universal’ light bulb having a wattage rating. A lamp dimmer circuit disposed within the fixture is in electrical communication between the AC line and a socket. A bulb test circuit within the fixture is operative to determine the maximum wattage of the bulb. A controller, also within the fixture includes a wattage select input. The controller is operative to determine the maximum wattage of the bulb using the bulb test circuit, compare the maximum wattage to the wattage select input and, if the maximum wattage is greater than the wattage select input, control the dimmer circuit to ensure that the power delivered to the bulb does not exceed the wattage select input. The bulb test circuit may determine the maximum wattage of the bulb by measuring the resistance of the bulb's filament or alternatively, by temporarily impressing line voltage across the bulb and measuring the current drawn by the bulb's filament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Inventor: Stacy Markel
  • Patent number: 8064669
    Abstract: A novel framework for fast and continuous registration between two imaging modalities is disclosed. The approach makes it possible to completely determine the rigid transformation between multiple sources at real-time or near real-time frame-rates in order to localize the cameras and register the two sources. A disclosed example includes computing or capturing a set of reference images within a known environment, complete with corresponding depth maps and image gradients. The collection of these images and depth maps constitutes the reference source. The second source is a real-time or near-real time source which may include a live video feed. Given one frame from this video feed, and starting from an initial guess of viewpoint, the real-time video frame is warped to the nearest viewing site of the reference source. An image difference is computed between the warped video frame and the reference image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: William E. Higgins, Scott A. Merritt, Lav Rai
  • Patent number: 8061757
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle sunshade assembly for controlling light entering a vehicle interior is provided having an elongated rotatable member, a flexible shade wrapped around the elongated rotatable member having a first edge connected to the rotatable member, and a second edge connected to an elongated extension member. Two support arms extend between the elongated extension member and the base profile and are operable to unroll the flexible shade from a elongated rotatable member thereby covering a vehicle window. Furthermore, an end cap is affixed to at least the first end of the elongated extension member. The elongated extension member further having at least one channel or track disposed therein. A biasing member is positioned within the at least one channel between the support arm and the end cap operable to force movement of the support arm during retraction of the flexible shade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaime Nicole Moore, Devon Marie Ross
  • Patent number: 8063209
    Abstract: Cidofovir or foscarnet based compounds having an amino acid or dipeptide esters are provided as prodrugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignees: TSRL, Inc., National Institute of Health (NIH), The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), The United States of America as represented by the NIH Division of Extramural Inventions and Technology Resources (DEITR)
    Inventors: John Hilfinger, Charles E. McKenna, Boris A. Kashemirov, Chi Pham, Kanokkarn Saejueng, Larryn Peterson
  • Patent number: 8061686
    Abstract: A pinch valve includes a valve body having a slot which is configured to allow a web of substrate material to pass therethrough. The valve body has a sealing surface which includes a first curved portion with a first radius of curvature. A dynamic seal element is configured to engage the valve body and includes a second curved portion having a second radius of curvature which is larger than the first radius of curvature. An actuator is operable to selectively bias the dynamic seal element into and out of engagement with the valve body so that when it is biased into engagement with the valve body the web of substrate material is engaged between the sealing surfaces of the dynamic seal element and the valve body. Also disclosed is a processing system which includes the pinch valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Uniter Solar Ovonic LLC
    Inventor: Mark Lycette
  • Patent number: 8062715
    Abstract: Direct-metal deposition (DMD), preferably under closed-loop control, is used to fabricate alloy-variant material structures which provide a combination of desirable physical and mechanical properties. Use of the invention facilitates the production of high-strength, high-wear, and impact-resistant structures which decrease the likelihood of erosion, heat checking and brittle failure in injection molds, die casting, thixomolding and other, more exotic tooling. The invention uses DMD to deposit a first material or alloy in an area exposed to high wear, such as the tooling gate area, with a second material or alloy being used elsewhere in the tool for greater impact resistance. Advantageously, the areas may be of a user-defined thickness to further improve longevity. The resulting composite material structure has mechanical properties (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventors: Timothy W. Skszek, Matthew T. J. Lowney, Dwight Morgan
  • Patent number: 8062294
    Abstract: An orthopaedic implant provides a simple yet effective retention system requiring no additional components beyond the implant and the associated fastener(s). A plurality of anti-rotation protrusions on the fastener or screw head that match recesses in the implant. The protrusions engage the recesses to prevent the fastener from reversing direction, thereby assuring that the associated fastener does not backout during normal motion of the spine and other anatomical structures. A land on the fastener screw thread assures the fastener will not disengage from the implant should it strip out of the bone. Preventing the fastener from backing out assures it will not detach from the implant or staple, assuring that the implant will remain in place until all fasteners in the system have catastrophically failed. The anti-backout features of the invention provide feedback as they engage, allowing the surgeon to move quickly when placing a fastener without the concern for inadvertent over-tightening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Spineform LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Reynolds
  • Patent number: 8060271
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods according to some embodiments of the present invention use a graphical model, such as a Markov random field model, to represent principal driving directions within an environment. The model has a plurality of nodes representing spatial locations within the environment, and the principal direction for each node is determined probabilistically using linear features detected within an image of the environment. Apparatus and methods according to embodiments of the present invention can be used in improved autonomous navigation systems, such as robotic vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitri A. Dolgov, Sebastian Thrun
  • Patent number: 8060285
    Abstract: A system and method of intelligent agent management within a vehicle intelligent agent system includes a host system, an overseer agent, and an agent that are all in communication via a communications network. The system includes an executable overseer agent management program that uses the identification code of the agent to determine if the agent identification code has been copied and deletes the agent from the intelligent agent system if the agent identification code has been copied. If the agent identification code has not been copied, the agent gathers new information, and the information in the agent knowledge database is updated using the new information and the updated information is transferred from the agent knowledge database to the overseer agent knowledge database. The overseer agent checks the validity of the transmitted information, and agent is deleted and a new agent is generated if the learned information is not valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Shunsuke Chigusa
  • Patent number: 8056542
    Abstract: An intake system is provided for a barrel internal combustion engine. The intake system includes a main air inlet, an intake plenum for a plurality of combustion cylinders, a first throttle, a second throttle and a control unit. The first throttle is operative to control a flow of air from the main air inlet, through a charging unit, and to the intake plenum. The second throttle is operative to control a flow of air from the air inlet to the intake plenum. The control unit controls the operation of the first and second throttles in supercharged or normally aspirated modes, where the first throttle operates as a main throttle and the second throttle is closed in the supercharged mode, and where the first throttle is closed and the second throttle operates as the main throttle in the naturally aspirated mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Thomas Engine Company, LLC
    Inventor: Randall R. Gaiser
  • Patent number: 8058464
    Abstract: A radioisotope labeled reagent includes a compound having the general formula (I) where a in each occurrence independently is a carbon mass number between 11 and 14 inclusive, b in each occurrence independently is a hydrogen mass number between 1 and 3 inclusive, such that a in each occurrence is not 12 simultaneously with b in each occurrence being 1; L is a leaving group R1SO2—O—, R1—S—, 12C1H3(12C1H2)n—S—R1C(O)O—, NC—, (R1)3P—, XMg— and Li—, where n is an integer between 0 and 3 inclusive, where X is chloro, bromo or iodine, where R1 is H, aryl, a substituent containing aryl, C1-C20 alkyl, a substituent containing C1-C20 alkyl, C2-C20 alkenyl, a substituent containing C2-C20 alkenyl, C2-C20 alkynyl, and a substitute containing C2-C20 alkynyl with the proviso that when n is 0, a is 13 and b is 2 and R1 in R1-S is not aryl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: PerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry Scot Pounds
  • Patent number: 8056956
    Abstract: A convertible roof includes an outer cover with a recess defined therein. The roof has a front roof edge which joins the windshield frame when the convertible roof is in a closed position. The front region of the roof includes a rigid assembly disposed under the cover. The rigid assembly includes a frame part. A sun roof part is received in the recess defined by the cover and is openable to a position raised out of a plane defined by the roof cover. The recess defined by the cover is open to the front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventor: Udo Heselhaus
  • Patent number: 8058848
    Abstract: A charger is operable in a normal mode such that output power matches a provided electric power command value CHPW, and limits the output power to a limit value PS in a saving mode if the electric power command value CHPW exceeds the limit value PS. A charging ECU performs feedback-control for compensating for the electric power command value CHPW such that a charging power monitor value PM sensed by a charging power sensing unit matches a target value PR, and in addition, limits an increase in the electric power command value CHPW such that the electric power command value CHPW does not significantly deviate from the target value PR. As a result, in a vehicle charging system on which an add-on charger having a power saving function is mounted, stabilization of the behavior when the add-on charger returns from a saving operation to a normal operation is allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Patent number: 8057900
    Abstract: Disclosed is a material having a composite particle, the composite particle including an outer shell and a core. The core is made from a lithium alloying material and the outer shell has an inner volume that is greater in size than the core of the lithium alloying material. In some instances, the outer mean diameter of the outer shell is less than 500 nanometers and the core occupies between 5 and 99% of the inner volume. In addition, the outer shell can have an average wall thickness of less than 100 nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Regents of the University of New Mexico
    Inventors: Claudia Luhrs, Monique N. Richard, Aaron Dehne, Jonathan Phillips, Kimber L. Stamm, Paul T. Fanson
  • Patent number: 8056957
    Abstract: A convertible top includes a linkage assembly that is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, with a mid position defined therebetween. A spring system assists movement of the linkage assembly from the extended position to the mid position and also from the retracted position to the mid position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Neubrand, Ryan Mitchell, Wolfgang Richter, Holger Schramm, Sven Hollenbeck
  • Patent number: 8053563
    Abstract: The present invention relates to monoclonal anti-human YKL-antibodies which are capable to modulate biological processes in which YKL-40 plays a prominent role, e.g. inhibit the growth and/or inducing apoptosis of cells, in particular cancer cells. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said antibodies and uses said antibodies and/or pharmaceutical compositions for treatment of a disease wherein inhibition of cell growth, cell differentiation, remodelling of extracellular matrix, metastasis and/or induction of cell death due to apoptosis is a prerequisite for successful curing. An antibody of the invention is capable of inhibiting biological function of YKL-40 in the above mentioned processes by binding to a specific epitope on YKL-40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: BIO-Y A/S
    Inventors: Richard Bonnichsen, Paul Price
  • Patent number: 8055406
    Abstract: A hands-free system that permits access to terminal memory data when a mobile terminal is identified through identification information is equipped with a storage portion that stores therein terminal memory data in association with first identification information and second identification information, a receiving portion that receives first identification information and second identification information from the mobile terminal, a collation portion that collates the received first identification information and the stored first identification information with each other and collates the received second identification information and the stored second identification information with each other, and a terminal memory data deletion portion that deletes the terminal memory data stored in association with the second identification information when it is determined that collation by the first identification information is impossible and that collation by the second identification information is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fumitada Murakami
  • Patent number: 8051699
    Abstract: An abrasive wear testing machine exhibiting a support surface upon which is dynamically supported a tray to which a wear piece is secured. A tool bit is supported by a vertically displaceable and weight supporting bracket in a fixed and downward load applied fashion against the wear piece, such that the tray is reciprocated a selected number of cycles to determine a wear profile exerted upon the wear piece by the tool bit. The bracket is configured so that end located receiving channels are each seatingly engaged upon upwardly extending hydraulic lifts secured to the support surface, with a plurality of free weights arranged upon the hydraulic lifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Linares Medical Devices, LLC
    Inventor: Miguel A. Linares
  • Patent number: 8052848
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to chemical reactions and processes, and in particular to a method for enhancing the rate of a chemical reaction and to apparatus for carrying out the method. The invention more particularly relates to methods and apparatus which utilize microwave and ultrasonic energy to enhance chemical reaction rates; and in specific instances, the invention relates to methods, processes and apparatus for the synthesis of biodiesel fuels. The methods, processes and apparatus of the invention are useful for the synthesis of biodiesel fuels; and also useful for production of reaction products of esterification and/or transesterification reactions including fatty acid alkyl esters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventor: Matthew M. Kropf
  • Patent number: D648598
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventor: Erik Lipson